The role of short- and long-range protocols within IoT

In designing an IoT network, deciding whether to use short- or long-range connectivity protocols is a straightforward but crucial decision. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and deciding on this will depend on your individual use case. In this section, we will highlight some factors to consider and talk about the remaining component of connectivity protocols that we have not yet discussed: long-range protocols.

Design factors

In designing networks, protocols such as Zigbee and Bluetooth are often chosen for communication within confined areas such as homes or industrial office buildings. While they excel in low power consumption and robust security features, their operational range is limited, making them unsuitable for covering large distances. However, their lower hardware costs and ability to deliver reliable services within their operational bounds make them the preferred choice for many localized applications...